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The Illuminati was founded more than 200 years ago May 1,1776, when a man of the name of Adam Weishaupt who defected from the Catholic church, the Order of the Illuminati secret organisation. After choosing five of the most talented law students to join, the organisation quickly expanded. Their top goal has been to achieve a “one world government” and to subjugate all religions and governments in the process. However only men were allowed to join, also couldn't be joweish also you could only be the age of 30 or younger, had to be wealthy and well educated.

https://u.osu.edu/vanzandt/2019/02/11/the-illuminati-conspiracy-theory-2/

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"I have heard there are some meetings here, but where and when, I have no idea," Sister Anna told me, taking some time to open up on the subject. "I think they come from France, England, all over, but Ingolstadt is the meeting place in Europe."

Working in the church bookshop opposite Ingolstadt's colossal Gothic Liebfrauenmünster church, Sister Anna sees, and speaks to, a lot of people. But some remain shrouded in mystery to her: Illuminati pilgrims, who she believes may still carry out secret meetings in the Bavarian city.

The idea that clandestine Illuminati gatherings could be taking place in the small Bavarian city may seem far-fetched, but Ingolstadt does have a history of them. The city is the birthplace of the infamous secret society that has become part myth, part historical truth, and the foundation of countless conspiracy theories.

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It was on 1 May 1776 that Adam Weishaupt, a professor of law at the University of Ingolstadt, founded the Order of the Illuminati, a secret organisation formed to oppose religious influence on society and the abuse of power by the state by fostering a safe space for critique, debate and free speech. Inspired by the Freemasons and French Enlightenment philosophers, Weishaupt believed that society should no longer be dictated by religious virtues; instead he wanted to create a state of liberty and moral equality where knowledge was not restricted by religious prejudices. However religious and political conservatism ruled in Ingolstadt at that time, and subject matter taught at the Jesuit-controlled university where Weishaupt lectured was strictly monitored.

After initially handpicking his five most talented law students to join, the network rapidly expanded, its members disseminating Weishaupt's goals of enlightenment with radical teachings, while at the same time creating an elaborate network of informants who reported on the behaviour of state and religious figures in an effort to build up a wealth of information that the Illuminati could potentially exploit in their teachings. With the help of prominent German diplomat Baron Adolf Franz Friedrich, Freiherr von Knigge - who helped recruit Freemason lodges to the Illuminati cause - the clandestine group grew to more than 2,000 members throughout Bavaria, France, Hungary, Italy and Poland, among other places.

Yet in the city where it all began, this peculiar legacy remains little known among residents.

"Not so many people know about it. But the Illuminati are part of the history of Ingolstadt," local journalist Michael Klarner explained as we stood outside the old University of Ingolstadt, an unassuming, church-like building just a short stroll from Sister Anna's bookshop.

The Illuminati was never meant to be noticed

"Weishaupt was in many ways a revolutionary," Klarner continued. "He liked the idea of teaching people to be better human beings. He wanted to change society, he was dreaming of a better world, of a better government. He started the Illuminati with the idea that everything known to human kind should be taught - something that was not allowed here at the university."

Entering the old university building, I was on the lookout for any sign that Weishaupt's organisation started within these thick medieval walls, but clues were noticeably absent.

But maybe that shouldn't be so surprising - the Illuminati, after all, was never meant to be noticed.

The organisation didn't evade the establishment for long, however. Just a decade after its creation, the secret society was infiltrated by Bavarian authorities after its radical anti-state writings were intercepted by government authorities. The Illuminati was shut down and Weishaupt was banished from Ingolstadt to live the rest of his life in the German city of Gotha, 300km to the north.

Yet the idea of a secret society revolting against the state has captured imaginations ever since, encapsulated in conspiracy theories cooked up by those who believe the Illuminati was never actually disbanded - a claim that has been widely debunked by historians. Even still, conspiracy theorists say that the organisation has been covertly working behind the scenes to subvert authority. The Illuminati has been suggested as the party responsible for the French Revolution, the assassination of US president John F Kennedy and even the 11 September 2001 terror attacks, and has become famous through books and films like Dan Brown's Angels and Demons.

Weishaupt wanted to change society, he was dreaming of a better world

"The Illuminati conspiracy theory is what we call a 'superconspiracy', or basically a conspiracy that controls smaller conspiracies," said Dr Michael Wood of the University of Winchester, an expert in the psychology of conspiracy theories. "People do talk about the Illuminati, but a lot of the time it's in a joking or self-aware kind of way, almost making fun of the idea of a global conspiracy."

And all of this began in a modest Bavarian city that's better known as the setting of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein than anything else.

Little points to the secret society's creation in Ingolstadt, except perhaps a small, easily missed plaque outside Weishaupt's former home, a light blue building on Theresienstrasse street, that marks it as an Illuminati meeting place in the late 18th Century. Yet delve a little deeper, and signs can be found of Ingolstadt's unlikely role in history.

Tucked behind two sets of metal doors at the Stadtmuseum Ingolstadt (City Museum) I found city archivist Maria Eppelsheimer sifting through row upon row of centuries-old books in search of Ingolstadt's Illuminati past, written in the words of the founder himself. The thick smell of ageing paper filled the narrow spaces between each bookcase, from which precious archaic hardbacks and delicate manuscripts jutted out.

"I think it's one of the most interesting topics we look at here," Eppelsheimer said as she studied the dusty spines in a section dedicated solely to Ingolstadt's history. She delicately pulled out one of the smallest books on the shelf. It was Apologie der Illuminaten, a 1786 work written by Weishaupt in which he defended the creation of the Illuminati shortly after his exile from the city.

"It's crazy what the Illuminati has been made into," the archivist said as she leafed through the pages of the well-worn manuscript. "What it's been made into has nothing to do with the real Illuminati."

More of Weishaupt's words can be found in small, unassuming volumes hidden among the city's vast archive. It's as though more than two centuries after its formation, Weishaupt's Illuminati has continued to remain as elusive as possible.

However there are some people in Ingolstadt, such as Klarner, who are actively trying to bring this unusual historical legacy to light.

"You know Frankenstein is believed to have been based in the city because of the Illuminati," Klarner said enthusiastically as he took me on a short tour of Ingolstadt's historical and religious landmarks. "By the French Revolution, there were already theories that the revolution began in Ingolstadt and that the Illuminati were the intellectual fathers of the revolution. This is why many literary theorists believe Mary Shelley knew about Ingolstadt, and why Frankenstein was then set here."

Klarner regularly leads Illuminati-themed walking tours to educate visitors on the group's relationship to the city. As we passed the large green, orange and yellow painted buildings of the old city, Klarner reeled off significant Illuminati dates, individuals and information, taking us back to 16th-Century Ingolstadt and the role of 15th-Century university professor Johann Eck in helping to cement the city, and the university in particular, as a bastion for the Catholic faith - something Weishaupt looked to counter two centuries later.

I think there is something here, but what exactly, I don't know

"Of course we get some conspiracy theorists on the tours I do," Klarner admitted. "But we can educate them to what is the real truth and what is conspiracy."

Back at Sister Anna's bookshop, however, the mystery around the Illuminati continues to catch the imagination of the shy nun - despite what the history books may say.

"Some people have come here and asked me about the meetings," the nun said, leaning over the table as though disclosing a secret. "I think there is something here, but what exactly, in what houses, I don't know."
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"I have heard there are some meetings here, but where and when, I have no idea," Sister Anna told me, taking some time to open up on the subject. "I think they come from France, England, all over, but Ingolstadt is the meeting place in Europe."

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multinational institution like the World Bank, the international Monetary Fund, European Union and United Nations have all been accused of being founding members.

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Under new control by an American general name Albert Pike, the organization planned out a plan for three world wars between the 20th century.  First event, would be world war 1 fought to destroy czarism in Russia because the Illuminati had held a  grudge against the Czarist regime since Russia had thwarted its plans, and Russia preventing its plans for one world order. second event would be the second world war blemished the Fascists against the political Zionists as to build up International Communism until it equaled in strength that of the United Christendom.  According to Illuminati plans, the Third World War, which is to be fought between the political Zionists and the leaders of the Moslem world, will drain the international community to the extent that they will have no choice but to form a one world government.

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Does the Illuminati control the world? Maybe it’s not such a mad idea | Julian Baggini

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Questioning the hidden power of elites – even the Illuminati – is really quite sane, says the philosopher Julian Baggini

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There are many different forms of evidence that people use to justify the existence of the Illuminati. For instance, there are certain symbols such as the Eye of Horus and pyramid.

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but whether the group even exists is up for debate because the group was originally a secret organization  but than later What historiography supports is not its modern existence, but its place in the past and also how it has shaped and inspired many forms of modern alternative movements. The author of the Illuminati was really in to secret societies,  heresies, and revolutionary  during his days as a manager at Watkins Books, an old mystical and bookshop in London. but he term Illuminati belongs to two different groups: the original Illuminati, formed more than two centuries ago as a secret society aimed at undermining corrupt governments and the religious. but now Today, that myth is linked to the idea of a New World Order, an alleged underground totalitarian global government that conspiracy theorists believe is controlling the world.

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If you're a proponent of conspiracy theories, you might believe that there's a secret organization that covertly controls every aspect of society, from the banks, to the government, and even our entertainment industries. Yes, we're talking about the Illuminati, a group that supposedly consists of the world's most powerful people. Beyonce and Jay-Z are rumored to be members (along with a host of other celebrities), and the group is said to be behind some of the last century's most historically important events, like the assassination of John F. Kennedy. But what exactly is the Illuminati-and do they even exist? Let's dive in to a brief history of this notorious and mysterious group.

1. The Illuminati was once a real organization.

Though there were a number of early Illuminati-like groups, things really kicked off with the Bavarian Illuminati, a secret society founded on May 1, 1776, in what was then known as the Electorate of Bavaria (part of modern-day Germany). The group was founded by Adam Weishaupt, a philosopher and professor at the University of Ingolstadt. At the school-which was heavily influenced by Jesuit doctrine-Weishaupt (a former Jesuit) had a hard time finding acceptance for his secular and liberal thinking. He wanted to connect with like-minded free-thinkers, so he decided to start his own secret society, and The Order of the Illuminati was born.

2. The Illuminati's goal was to encourage a rational society.

While there are differing descriptions of the group's stated goals, the Illuminati's main mission was in line with the values of the Enlightenment: The group sought to promote rational thinking and knowledge. Weishaupt said that current systems "leave us under the dominion of political and religious prejudices," whereas the Illuminati "frees ... from all religious prejudices; cultivates the social virtues; and animates them by a great, a feasible, and speedy prospect of universal happiness, in a state of liberty and moral equality, freed from the obstacles which subordination, rank, and riches, continually throw in our way."

3. The Illuminati wasn't always called the Illuminati.

Originally, Weishaupt called his group the "Perfectibilists." However, the founder quickly realized how silly that sounded and tried out a few other names, including The Bee Order (yes, really), before eventually landing on The Order of the Illuminati.

4. The Illuminati had strict membership requirements.

The Illuminati were an exclusive group of rich, successful men; no women or Jews were admitted into their ranks. Five men, all from the University of Ingolstadt, attended that first meeting in 1776. Any new members had to be vetted and approved by the existing group. Membership requirements included being well-educated and wealthy, having a strong reputation, and coming from a good family. They also had to be 30 years old or younger-the group believed anyone older to be too conservative and rigid in their ways. The group grew quickly, though, in part because the first members joined the Freemasons, another group for independent thinkers, to recruit other men-and, at its largest, had up to 2000 members, including doctors, lawyers, politicians, and intellectuals.

5. Members of the Illuminati worked their way through levels of enlightenment.

After joining, members of The Order of the Illuminati worked their way through a series of "levels" to show their progress toward enlightenment. Originally, the Illuminati had three different " levels of enlightenment " that members could achieve: novices, minervals, and illuminated minervals. (The Owl of Minerva was the group's original symbol; Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom, and the Owl of Minerva symbolizes intelligence and wisdom and was a popular icon of independent, progressive thinkers of the era.)

However, a few years after its founding, a member named Baron von Knigge revised the system into as many as 13 levels, also known as "degrees," which were then grouped into three classes. Von Knigge had been a member of the Freemasons before turning to the Illuminati, and his system was based on that of his former group. Reaching the highest level meant a member had achieved "philosophical illumination," according to National Geographic, and he was given the title of "king."

6. Members of the Illuminati used pseudonyms.

All Illuminati members were given pseudonyms that represented historical or important figures. For example, Weishaupt was known as "Spartacus" and von Knigge as "Philo." Correspondence was written in cipher and even things like town names were replaced with an arbitrary word. It's said that when the government raided member's homes after shutting down the organization, instructions for making invisible ink were found.

7. The Illuminati were exposed by one of their own.

The original Bavarian Illuminati was in existence for less than a decade, from 1776 to 1785. A former member named Joseph Utzschneider was responsible for shutting them down. Utzschneider wrote a letter to the Grand Duchess of Bavaria that outed the group and their progressive beliefs (though it's likely some of his claims were exaggerated). The Grand Duchess told her husband, the Duke of Bavaria, who first issued an edict in 1784 that banned the creation of any society not previously authorized by law, and then followed that up a year later with a new rule in 1785 that explicitly banned the secret society, and in 1787, membership was made punishable by death. The group was disbanded and Weishaupt was banished from Bavaria. According to most experts, this was the end of the Illuminati, though there are hundreds of conspiracy theories that suggest the group is very much still alive and running.

8. Conspiracy theories about the Illuminati began almost as soon as the order was shut down.

In 1797, physicist, mathematician, and later-in-life conspiracy theorist John Robison published a book called Proofs of a Conspiracy, in which he accused The Order of the Illuminati of infiltrating the Freemasons and helping to start the French Revolution.

This book eventually made its way to George Washington, a Master Mason, who had just wrapped up his time as president. After reading it, Washington wrote a letter intending to dispel the threat of the Illuminati, though his simply addressing the group only stoked conspiracy theories.

Similar writings and accusations followed, and public chatter about Illuminati conspiracies would die down and flare up again throughout the next centuries. There are dozens if not hundreds of conspiracy theories claiming that The Order of the Illuminati is still very much alive and well, and that they're quietly working under the radar to establish a New World Order (the idea that a small group of very powerful people are working behind the scenes to put in place an authoritarian government that would rule the whole world). There is zero proof of that.

9. According to conspiracy theories, some of the world's biggest stars and historical figures are members of the Illuminati.

There are rumors that some of the world's biggest pop stars and Hollywood celebrities are actually members of the Illuminati. Dr. Dre, Madonna, Bono, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Whitney Houston, Katy Perry ... the list goes on, but at the top sit Jay-Z and Beyoncé. In all of these cases, it's speculated that these stars owe their success to the help of the secret organization. (It's relevant to note here that Beyoncé shut down those rumors in the first verse of her 2016 song " Formation ": "Y'all haters corny with that Illuminati mess.") And it's not just modern-day entertainers; historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Henry Kissinger, Winston Churchill, and John D. Rockefeller are rumored to have been involved with the Illuminati, too.

10. Rumor has it the Illuminati headquarters is located at Denver International Airport.

Since opening in 1995-more than a year late and $2 billion over budget-the Denver International Airport has found itself at the center of a variety of Illuminati-related conspiracy theories. The airport has a time capsule set to be opened in 2094 that's emblazoned with icons of a Masonic square and compass, a symbol of the Freemasons-and, by conspiratorial extension, the Illuminati. There are also plaques stating that DEN was funded by the "New World Airport Commission" (hmmm, sounds an awful lot like New World Order, doesn't it?) and rumors that the airport sits above a secret, underground Illuminati headquarters where the world's elite will live after the apocalypse. The whole thing is wild speculation, but DEN has leaned into the theories-check out its #DENFILES website for some fun information.

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10 Things You Might Not Know About the Illuminati

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If you're a proponent of conspiracy theories, you might believe that there's a secret organization that covertly controls every aspect of society, from the banks, to the government, and even our entertainment industries. Yes, we're talking about the Illuminati, a group that supposedly consists of the world's most powerful people.